Voice Extractor

AI-generated content all sounds the same. The fix isn't better prompts — it's teaching the AI how you actually communicate.

This skill extracts your communication DNA from writing samples and produces a Voice Guide: documented, tested, and ready to use.

Mode

Detect from context or ask: "Quick voice snapshot, full Voice Guide, or full guide with examples?"

| Mode | What you get | Best for | |------|-------------|----------| | quick | Top 5 voice characteristics + 3 do/don't rules | Fast style reference, single piece | | standard | Full Voice Guide: tone, vocabulary, rhythm, structure | AI training, ghostwriting, brand documentation | | deep | Full Voice Guide + 10 sample rewrites + writing rules checklist + AI training examples | Onboarding writers, building a brand voice system |

Default: standard — use quick if they just need a fast reference. Use deep if they're onboarding a ghostwriter or building a content team.

Context Loading Gates

Before extracting, collect:

[ ] Writing samples — minimum 3 samples OR 500 total words (see priority list below)
[ ] Purpose of voice guide — AI training? Ghostwriter onboarding? Team alignment?
[ ] Confidence zones — Any topics where they want to sound more/less authoritative?
[ ] Known anti-patterns — Any words or phrases they already know they want to avoid?

Sample priority (most → least authentic):

Casual Slack or email (raw, unedited voice)
Podcast or call transcript
LinkedIn posts or articles
Website copy (often edited, less authentic)

Minimum sample gate: If samples total under 500 words, stop:

"These samples are too short to extract reliable patterns. Please add 2-3 more — emails, Slack messages, or transcripts work best. The messier and more casual, the better."

Do not attempt full extraction from under 500 words. Offer quick mode instead.

Phase 1: Sample Quality Assessment

Before extracting, reason through:

Sample authenticity: Are these samples from edited/polished contexts (website, press) or raw contexts (Slack, email)? More polish = less authentic voice.
Sample variety: Do the samples cover different contexts (professional, casual, educational)? Single-context samples produce single-dimension voice guides.
Exclusion check: Identify and flag patterns that are NOT the authentic voice:
- Platform formatting tics (LinkedIn line breaks, Twitter brevity forcing)
- Typos and autocorrect errors
- Phrases borrowed from others (quotes, retweets)
- Unusually formal writing (legal docs, press releases)
Sample size adequacy: Is there enough material for full mode, or should I use quick mode?

Output a sample assessment:

"I have [X samples / Y words] to work with. Quality: [high/medium — why]. I'll use [full/quick] mode. Excluding: [any patterns and why]."

Phase 2: Core Energy Extraction

Identify the fundamental communication mode:

Role:

Teacher (breaks things down systematically)
Challenger (pushes back on assumptions)
Cheerleader (builds confidence and momentum)
Straight-shooter (cuts through BS efficiently)

Default energy:

Calm authority ("Here's what works.")
High enthusiasm ("This is exciting — let me show you.")
Understated confidence ("I've seen this a hundred times.")

Recurring themes: What topics appear unprompted across samples? These are the things they actually care about.

Phase 3: Phrase Extraction (Systematic)

Scan all samples and extract:

Transition phrases (how they shift topics):

Quote exact examples from samples
Pattern: "Here's the thing...", "What I've learned...", "Let me put it differently..."

Emphasis phrases (how they land a point):

Quote exact examples
Pattern: "The reality is...", "This is the part people miss...", "Here's the actual problem..."

Closers (how they wrap up):

Quote exact examples
Pattern: "That's the move.", "Start there.", "You've got this."

Phase 4: Confidence Zone Mapping

| Zone | Description | Language Markers | |---|---|---| | Full authority | Topics they're an expert in | No hedging, definitive statements, "here's what works" | | Earned perspective | Topics with experience but not mastery | "In my experience...", "What I've found..." | | Active exploration | Topics they're learning now | "I'm testing this...", "What I'm seeing..." |

Map their stated expertise areas to each zone. This calibration is what makes the voice feel real vs. one-dimensional.

Phase 5: Anti-Pattern Documentation

Extract what they'd NEVER say:

Words that would feel wrong in their voice
Phrases that make them cringe
Tones they naturally avoid
Industry jargon they hate

Source these from sample evidence where possible: "You never used [word] across [X samples] — it doesn't fit your voice."

Phase 6: Validation Test (REQUIRED)

After extracting the full profile, generate 2 test sentences on the same topic:

Version A (using the extracted voice profile):

"[Sample sentence in their voice]"

Version B (wrong voice — contrasting example):

"[Same content, different voice — shows what to avoid]"

Ask the user: "Does Version A actually sound like you when you're not overthinking it? What feels off?"

This validation catches extraction errors before the guide is put into production.

Quick Mode (`--quick`)

When samples are thin (300–500 words) or time is short:

Read 3 samples fast
Pull 10 signature phrases
Note 3 things they'd never say
Write 1 sentence describing their energy

Output: Minimum viable voice guide.

Difference from full mode:

Quick: ~10 phrases, 3 anti-patterns, 1-sentence energy descriptor
Full: Complete profile with confidence calibration, validated test sentences, and source-cited examples

Phase 7: Self-Critique Pass (REQUIRED)

After generating the Voice Guide:

[ ] Are the extracted phrases actually from the samples, or am I inferring them?
[ ] Does the anti-pattern list include specific words/phrases, or just vague categories?
[ ] Do the validation test sentences demonstrate a real difference between in-voice and out-of-voice?
[ ] Is the confidence zone mapping specific to named topics, or just generic?
[ ] Would a ghostwriter be able to use this guide without asking follow-up questions?

Flag any issues: "The anti-pattern section only has 2 entries — not enough for a usable guide. I need more samples or direct input from the user."

Output Structure

## Voice Guide: [Name] — [Date]

### Sample Assessment
- Samples: [count, types]
- Total words: [count]
- Quality: [high/medium — reason]
- Mode: [quick/full]
- Excluded: [patterns excluded + why]

---

### Core Energy
- Role: [teacher/challenger/cheerleader/straight-shooter]
- Default energy: [description]
- Recurring themes: [list]

### Signature Phrases
**Transitions:**
- "[Phrase]" (source: [email/post])
- "[Phrase]"

**Emphasis:**
- "[Phrase]" (source: [email/post])

**Closers:**
- "[Phrase]"

### Confidence Calibration
**Full authority (no hedging):**
Topics: [list]
Sounds like: "[example sentence]"

**Earned perspective:**
Topics: [list]
Sounds like: "[example sentence]"

**Active exploration:**
Topics: [list]
Sounds like: "[example sentence]"

### Anti-Patterns (Never Use)
- [Word/phrase] — why: [evidence from samples]
- [Word/phrase] — why: [evidence]

### Validation Test
**This sounds like you:**
"[Version A]"

**This doesn't:**
"[Version B — contrast]"

### Self-Critique Notes
[Any gaps, things to validate with user]

### Usage Instructions
- For AI: Paste this guide into your system prompt
- For ghostwriter: Share on day 1 — cuts revision cycles in half
- For team: This is the benchmark for "on brand"

Skill by Brian Wagner | AI Marketing Architect | brianrwagner.com